Tag Archives: Insect Control

Ants, Insect Control, News, Stinging Insects, Wasps

They Call Them “Velvet Ants” But They’re Really Wasps

Ant or Wasp?
Ant or Wasp?

Don’t let the name “Velvet Ants” fool you. While they may have some of the characteristics of an ant in color and size, in actuality, they belong to the Mutillidae (wasp) family.

About Velvet Ants

The female is especially ant-like due to her velvety exterior, which has a furry texture. Most are black or brown, like ants, and may be marked with red, orange, or yellow rings. While females are wingless, males do have wings and look more like wasps. Other species are known for their excruciating sting and some are capable of making a squeaking sound.

Studies on velvet ants show the insects are prone to attacking flies and beetles. Females spend much of their time hunting wasps and bees in their ground nests where she’ll lay eggs inside wasp or bee pupa. When the young wasps hatch, they feed on the pupa. Velvet ants produce young once a year.

Their stings are very painful and may cause a rash or an allergic reaction.

Velvet ants are difficult to control, especially if attempting to do it on your own. For the best results in NJ wasp abatement, you need a professional pest control service.

NJ wasp abatement is one of the services we handle at Stern Environmental Group. If you’re experiencing problems with velvet ants, let our experienced staff take care of the problem safely. Call us today to schedule a free home inspection.

Insect Control, News, Pest Animal Removal, Rodent Control

Restaurants: Know Your Top Insect and Rodent Problems

What Pests do you have hiding in your restaurant? Here are the top ones to look for.
What Pests do you have hiding in your restaurant? Here are the top ones to look for.

When you own a restaurant, one of the worst problems to deal with is the presence of pests. Rodents and bugs can cause major health hazards that could make customers and employees sick while also harming your business. Find out more about some of the most common restaurant pests that you might need NJ pest control services for.

Rats and Mice

Rodents, such as mice and rats, can get into your food preparation area and the main dining area in your restaurant. This creates a big problem in terms of public health hazards for your customers and employees. Rodents can spread infectious diseases through their urine, feces and bites. They can also contaminate your food supplies, dishes, utensils and equipment.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches can get into your restaurant through the tiniest cracks or gaps in walls. They can spread germs throughout the kitchen and dining area as they roam around looking for food. Cockroaches can also trigger asthma attacks and cause other health problems.

Pantry Pests

These pests, such as certain kinds of beetles, can get into stored food products and ruin them. While most don’t spread disease, they can still be harmful to your restaurant. Wheat, rice and other stored foods can become contaminated or infested with the eggs of these insects.

Don’t let pests cause problems for your restaurant. Contact Stern Environmental Group for more information about our NJ pest control services.

Commercial Services, News

Advanced Concepts of Pest Management Puts Bugs in Their Place

Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management Puts Rodents and Bugs in Their Place

Waiting until you have a pest infestation means that you’ll have to take more drastic steps to thoroughly eliminate it. Staying one step ahead of pests through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) helps reduce the amount of NJ & NYC pest control you’ll need.

Benefits of IPM

IPM provides a way for pest control professionals to protect homes and businesses from pest infestations. Rather than waiting for a problem to occur, this type of pest management involves spraying at certain times during pest life cycles. Doing this helps cut down on the amount of spray that’s needed, which is better for the environment. IPM also reduces the risk of having to deal with serious pest infestations, since it lowers the risk of having these pests invade in the first place.

Pest Prevention

In addition to IPM, property owners can also take steps to keep pests away. These include not leaving any garbage lying around, trimming trees, bushes and other vegetation away from building exteriors, and fixing water damage.

Property owners should also seal up potential entry points, such as gaps near windows and doors and cracks in the foundation. This makes it harder for pests to enter homes and businesses.

Don’t wait until you have a pest problem to seek help. At Stern Environmental, we offer NJ & NYC pest control that focuses on integrated pest management. This helps lower the risk of having an infestation.

Ants, Commercial Services, Insect Control, News, Pest Control

Brace Yourself for a Summer Plague of Insects Due to Wet Weather

Humidity Brings Insects
Humidity Brings Insects

While the summer months mark the beginning of longer days and warmer weather, they can also signal the onset of annoying and potentially dangerous bugs. Because of an exceptionally wet spring, this summer, in particular, is on course to be a plagued by insects. Here are some important facts and tips from Stern Environmental that will help keep you, your employees and your costumers safe and comfortable.

Dangers of Biting Insects

Most insects will simply leave an itchy and annoying bite, but mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks have the potential to pass on serious diseases and cause health problems. Ticks alone are know to transmit Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever and trigger other life threatening reactions. That is why it is especially important to take real measures to fight back against the robust insect population that is infesting the area.

Solutions

If you or your employees are spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure to take advantage of the wide range of effective bug sprays on the market. You can choose between formulas that contain DEET or use more natural repellents.

Protective clothing can also reduce bites. Simply wearing pants and long sleeves can keep bugs away from your skin.

Finally, NYC pest control services can help you control the pest population around your business and employees. Safe, affordable and effective treatments can help you stay safe during this summer of bugs and bites.

Bed Bug Information, Disease Carrying Pests, Insect Control, News, Stinging Insects

Weird Insect Facts You Never Wanted to Know

Insect Facts
Insect Facts

Insects are universal and have been part of the planet’s ecosystem since time began. They each have their roll in the environment but when they encroach into our homes, that’s a different matter.

In our part of the world, some of the best-known insects with distinctive personalities and reputations include cockroaches, bedbugs, mosquitoes, bees, ants, spiders, and a long list of “other” insects.

While we may know some of the basic characteristics of insects residing in our area, there are quite a few with fun and interesting facts surrounding some of these same creepy crawlies.

  • Adult bedbugs can go for an entire year without feeding
  • Ants live in colonies that can consist of a half million residents
  • Blondes have more fun especially with mosquitoes who prefer them to brunettes
  • Every spider web is unique with no two ever the same
  • Black widow venom packs more of a punch than that of a rattlesnake
  • Queen ants can live 15 years
  • Honeybees are responsible for more deaths worldwide than poisonous snake bites
  • Citronella hurts a mosquitoes feet
  • Ants do not need to sleep
  • Your bed may hold billions of dust mites
  • Get out of the way of flying dragonflies that can hit speeds of 50 to 60 mph

Contact our staff at Stern at your earliest convenience by phone, email, or the online form on our website and let us take care of your pest problems, ASAP.